The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
